Playwrights Welcome, developed for the Dramatists Guild of America members, is a national ticketing initiative created by Samuel French along with Dramatists Play Service, Dramatic Publishing, Music Theatre International, Playscripts and Rodgers and Hammerstein. This program was made out of a desire to support the artistic health of our industry's writers, and by extension the vibrancy of the American theatre.
We’re aware that attending theatre is an integral part to how writers learn their craft and grows as artists. However, it can often be costly for writers to do that simple act. Playwrights Welcome is designed to offer available tickets to professional playwrights on the day of a performance, free of charge. These available tickets are ones that would otherwise go unsold; we firmly believe that no theater should give away a ticket that could otherwise be sold. To learn more about how your theater can get involved, or how you as a playwright can take advantage of this Dramatists Guild benefit, see below.
How It Works
Theaters may sign up to participate in Playwrights Welcome by filling out this form. Our Program Manager will be in touch with next steps. Once registered, theaters will receive a welcome packet, complete with language to use in marketing and promotion, a logo pack, and a window cling to display in your box office window.
We will advertise the program to playwrights, but we encourage you to promote Playwrights Welcome to your community by displaying the window cling in your box office. We also recommend featuring the Playwrights Welcome program on your website or in printed materials with your ticket policies.
Eligible playwrights will call or visit your box office for day-of tickets - or through a reservation system designed by your theater. Every box office works differently, and we know that you may not be able to offer day-of tickets, so managing reservations for this program is at your discretion. Our only requirement is that playwrights present their Dramatists Guild card to claim their ticket. See below for notes about specific ticket reservations at theaters that currently offer Playwrights Welcome.
More information here.